On June 17, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Law of Ukraine No. 13271-1, which amended a number of anti-corruption and procedural norms. After signing by the President and official publication (expected by the end of June), the document will change the thresholds for administrative and criminal liability, the subjectivity of cases, the list of subjects of criminal liability, etc.
We explain what exactly has changed and how it will affect already open cases.
What exactly has changed?
Administrative liability for false declaration (Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses)
Now administrative liability arises only if an official declared inaccurate data in the amount of UAH 454,000 to UAH 2.271 million.
Before the changes, this threshold ranged from UAH 302,000 to UAH 1.514 million.
Criminal liability for false declaration (Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
If previously criminal liability for inaccurate data in the declaration was imposed for an amount exceeding one and a half million hryvnias, now the bar has been significantly raised. According to the new rules, criminal proceedings will be opened only in cases where the discrepancy in the declaration is at least 2.27 million hryvnias. If the amount exceeds 7.57 million, we are talking about more serious liability with stricter consequences. That is, those who previously risked being caught under the article for an “error” of several million can now breathe a sigh of relief — in such cases there will be no more crime.
Illicit enrichment (Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
The threshold has been lowered: now criminal liability arises when assets increase by more than UAH 9.08 million, whereas previously this threshold was UAH 9.84 million.
The range of subjects of criminal liability has been expanded
Now, several more categories have been added to the circle of persons who can be held liable for illicit enrichment. In particular, these are the heads and members of expert groups that assess a person's functional state, as well as representatives of military medical commissions - both current ones and those who worked in medical and social expert commissions before. In other words, the law covers a wider range of specialists who have an influence on making important decisions, in particular regarding health, fitness for service, or the assignment of social benefits.
Change of investigation (Article 216 of the Criminal Procedure Code)
The new thresholds significantly change the distribution of cases between anti-corruption agencies. From now on, NABU will focus only on the largest cases - where damage exceeds 15 million hryvnias. All other economic offenses automatically fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Economic Security.
Storage periods in the Register of Corrupt Persons (Article 59 of the Law “On Prevention of Corruption”)
- 1 year - for administrative violations or civil liability;
- Until the criminal record is removed - for criminal;
- 5 years - for legal entities.
So, information about corruption offenses will now be stored in the register longer and in a clearly regulated manner. If it concerns an administrative offense or civil liability, the data will remain in the register for a year. If a person has been convicted of a corruption offense, the information will be stored until the criminal record is expunged or expunged. And if it concerns a legal entity to which criminal legal measures have been applied, the record will be kept in the register for five years.
Restrictions on service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Persons who are under trial for a serious or especially serious corruption crime cannot be mobilized or drafted into military formations.
What about already open cases?
Administrative (Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offenses)
If a person is prosecuted for declaring false information in the amount of 454 thousand UAH, and the case has not yet been considered - it may be closed.
After all, a law that mitigates liability has a retroactive effect (Article 7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
Criminal (Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
If the amount of unreliable data does not reach the new thresholds, the criminal proceedings may be closed if the act is no longer a crime, or may be reclassified - for example, from Part 2 to Part 1, and the jurisdiction may also change - from NABU to BEB.
Why are these changes important?
Law No. 13271-1 is, in fact, an attempt to adapt the rules of the game to current economic realities. The threshold amounts of liability have been increased taking into account inflation and the general growth of income, so formally declaring has become a little "safer" for officials. This especially applies to administrative liability - now an "error" in the declaration within the range of several hundred thousand hryvnias may have no legal consequences at all.
The circle of officials who can be held accountable for illegal enrichment has also been expanded - from now on, representatives of military and medical expert commissions are also under scrutiny.
In addition, the state is beginning to take a new approach to the register of corrupt officials: information will be stored longer and will have more tangible consequences for reputation, work, and public activities.
To sum up, if you or your client has a case related to false declaration or illicit enrichment, it is worth reviewing it in the context of the new thresholds. There is a chance that liability will simply not arise now, because the changes work in favor of the suspect. In cases where the proceedings are not yet completed, this may be grounds for its closure or, at least, reclassification to a milder article.
